Remember 1954? It seems like only yesterday to us, but it was actually 50 years ago when a group of youngsters got together to form the Clark Street Sun - now Sun Youth Organization. They had no idea then that their infant Sun would grow to be such a source of warmth, guidance and support for an unfortunately large number of families.
Remember 1967? Most people think of Expo 67, but it was also the year Sun Youth began providing emergency services to the community. A few years later, between the fading memories of Woodstock and the imminent birth of Disco, Sun Youth brought its successful fire program to Montrealers. In 1981, the year the Expos were knocked out of a World Series appearance on Blue Monday, Sun Youth opened its Food Bank. Now in 2003 Sun Youth provides more services than ever, including sports and recreation activities for thousands of young Montrealers, daily medication for fourteen hundred disadvantaged seniors, and nourishment for over one thousand families each week.
Our 50th Anniversary finds us a little nostalgic. We're evolved, but as it was in 1954, our success still revolves around people. People who give their time, energies and talents to help others.
Our History
In
1954, Sun Youth Organization was founded; the result of some local
kids tired of the minimal
sports and recreational activities available to them and the majority
of youths in the St. Lawrence Blvd. area (now Le Plateau). The idea
was simple provide a safe and constructive outlet for young people
to focus their time and energies.
They established a handwritten newspaper called the "Clark Street Sun," which was peddled door to door. The youths collected funds and used the monies to defray the participation costs in sports activities, which for the most part, they had organized. They eventually even managed to purchase equipment and uniforms for the children involved.
As the boys grew older, the daily struggles of society, became an ever present reality. A reality they felt they should address and try to better through community programs they felt were required to assist the less fortunate. One of their first attempts was the establishment of a food assistance project to help those in need. This, was just the beginning of what lay ahead for this organization
The 1970's, saw the implementation of the Fire Emergency Assistance Program which assists persons displaced through fires. They also became involved in the promotion and introduction of community crime prevention project. Initial attempts at crime prevention included, lecturing throughout the community on topics such as neighborhood watch, drug and alcohol abuse, shoplifting, and the dangers of stranger abductions
The 1980's were a crucial period for this Organization, as we were finally able to greatly expand and ameliorate all our services thanks to our move to the former Baron Byng High School building. This new site, afforded Sun Youth the physical space required to centralize services and better programs including those judged most important such as our emergency food bank service which was now made available 365 days a year; the establishment of a clothing bank; a comprehensive senior's program, and an emergency response program catering to persons in distress
Today, Sun Youth is a comprehensive and vibrant non profit community center looking toward serving the disadvantaged in the next millennium. The organization works in conjunction with schools, police officers, firefighters, medical professionals, corporations, and numerous volunteers. We receive referrals from more than 170 social service agencies from the Greater Montreal area. A referral from a third party, may not automatically qualify the person referred; as each client and situation is evaluated and a decision rendered using our established criteria.
Our success notwithstanding, we depend on donations received from individuals, corporations, and government sources. Without this support many of the programs noted would not be able to continue and new programs would not evolve.
Our Mission,
To provide the foremost in personal service and implement programs suited to improving the
prevailing situation in Greater Montreal, through education, awareness, and assistance.
Sun Youth Organization, its staff management and board of directors are committed to
helping the disadvantaged and weak, with an enduring dedication and a keen awareness of the
challenges still ahead.
Our purpose,
is to provide a comprehensive community center that:
- Implements' high quality, non discriminatory service.
Strives to serve citizens of all ages, races and creeds, preferably in their language.
- Offers services to youths, seniors, low income individuals or families and person's with special needs.
- Develops programs that evolve to meet the changing needs of a community in flux. Is a presence in time of need.
- Works with people, shares with families, and cares for all.